Stitch Don't Shop: My Handmade Wardrobe with Amelia Ellen Sews

In this episode of The Sewing Social, the host Gemma Daly interviews Amelia from Amelia Ellen Sews, exploring her journey in sewing, favourite patterns, crafting preferences, and the importance of community support in the sewing world. Amelia shares her experiences with upcycling, sustainable fashion, and her teaching journey, while also discussing her future projects and aspirations in the crafting space.

Key Takeaways: 

• Amelia's favourite colour is pink, reflecting her vibrant personality.
• She enjoys sewing with viscose linen and cotton for their versatility.
• The patchwork bow dress is her favourite creation due to its challenge and uniqueness.
• Amelia finds inspiration in everyday life, including what people wear and fabric designs.
• Amelia's decision to stop buying ready-made clothes stemmed from negative shopping experiences.
• She emphasises the importance of fabric quality and ethical production in her sewing choices.
• Teaching sewing brings Amelia joy, as she loves seeing others succeed and grow in their skills.
• Amelia is excited about future projects, including making dungarees from beautiful fabric.
• She actively shares her sewing journey on Instagram and is looking to create more content for YouTube.

Follow me: 

Instagram: @thesewingsocialpod

                         @thedalythread

Guest details: 

Instagram: @amelia_ellen_sews_

                         @amelia_ellen_crochets

Youtube: @ameliaellensews

Patchwork bow dress by Roberts Wood: https://www.roberts-wood.com/bow-patchwork-elysia-dress

Ginkgo pinafore by Madswick Studios: https://madswick.com/products/ginkgo-pinafore-pdf

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Amelia Ellen Sews

02:50 Favorite Sewing Patterns and Fabrics

05:56 Crafting Preferences and Inspirations

08:45 Upcycling and Sustainable Fashion Choices

11:43 The Journey of Learning to Sew

14:58 Teaching Sewing and Community Support

17:36 Future Projects and Aspirations

20:50 Conclusion and Social Media Presence

Transcript

Speaker 2 (00:03.416)

Welcome to The Sewing Social. Today it's one of our community stories and I'll be interviewing Amelia from Amelia Ellen Sews. I hope you really enjoy it. So let's dive in.

Speaker 2 (00:19.414)

I was going to start with a little game of what's your favourite. It's not just sewing related. There's a few random things in there so we can get to know a little bit about you. Okay. Shall we get into it? Let's start with what's your favourite colour?

Yeah, awesome.

are difficult. I think I have to say pink.

I've seen you make a few garments in pink. that makes sense. Starting with the tough ones there.

Hahaha

Speaker 1 (00:51.31)

I have this thing because I think it's because I'm Libra and I just can't decide on things so I find it quite hard but I'll try you know.

Try and be decisive. will.

Right, this one might be hard actually. What's your favourite sewing pattern?

Okay.

I think I have to go as 80 jumpsuit. So actually not too hard. Yeah. I do have a lot of 80s. I kind of need to stop myself from making them now, I think. But I've got, I think maybe four jumpsuits and then I've got the dress version that I just kind of hacked and made. Yeah. That's a good one. comfortable. And you just put it on and you're fully dressed, ready to go. So I just love that.

Speaker 2 (01:33.248)

I have yet to make it because I'm scared of the hype about the oversizedness. But I just need to tackle that.

I think I sized down for it. can't remember what size I've made, but it'll be like on the pattern that I've cut. Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, it's a great one. Yeah. Recommend it. Yeah.

Okay, leading on from that a little bit then, what's your favourite fabric to sew with?

I like all the fabrics for different reasons, but this is a yes or no type situation, isn't it? So I'm going to have to go...

Choose more than one if you like.

Speaker 1 (02:07.456)

I really like viscose. I like viscose linen as well. So I suppose maybe I'd have to go with that. also like cotton. So there we go.

I would agree with the viscose linen, that is my favourite.

Yeah, yeah. It's a good one.

Now, have you got a favourite garment that you've ever made?

I think... I don't...

Speaker 2 (02:28.234)

You love all of them equally.

I do, yeah. mean, I think I really like, what's this? This is the Tilly. Indigo. This is the indigo. So yeah, I really like an indigo. think again, similar reason for the zady is that you just put it on in your dress. So I think that that's really good. I don't know whether it's like my favorite thing that I've ever sewn, because it's not that much of a challenge. I think possibly the patchwork bow dress might be my favorite thing that I've ever sewn just because it was like a challenge and I had to fit it and I made it.

Is it the guy?

Speaker 1 (02:59.04)

I upcycled it all. So it was made fully from basically bed sheets and tablecloths. And I really loved it when it came out. So I think that will probably be my favorite thing that I've ever sewn. But obviously it's a bit difficult to wear like all year round and things like that. And it's a bit difficult just to wear because it's so kind of, well, for me, it's quite fancy.

Yeah, I've seen it because didn't you wear it to one of the parties at New Craft House? Yes, I did. It's really pretty, but I understand why it might not be an everyday item.

Yeah, that's why I made it.

Speaker 1 (03:33.974)

Yes, and I remember we went for a meal before the party and I was just paranoid that I'd get so fat or something on it. So I was just sitting there like trying really hard to not do anything. But I suppose if I was to wear it again, then maybe I'd be a bit more comfortable with that. But yeah, and there's that whole thing, isn't there? You know, you've got to make it, you've got to wear it, you've got to live in it.

to just.

Speaker 2 (03:57.208)

So, this might be another tough one for you. What is your favourite craft? Now, is it sewing or crochet or embroidery? I know you do all of those things.

I really like them all. I think it's difficult to kind of choose between them because I like them for different reasons. So I like the fact that with crochet I can take it somewhere with me. You know, I can do it on a train. can, you know, if I'm going on holiday, I can just shove it in a suitcase or a bag or whatever. So I like it for that reason just because, you know, if I'm watching TV or whatever, I can do it downstairs. Whereas all my sewing stuff is kind of stairs and away from that. And obviously if I go on holiday, I can't take my sewing machine.

but there's just something about the way that sewing garments come together so much more quickly than crochet and kind of that morn, not instant. And it's still a slow process, but if you compare sewing a garment to crocheting a garment, then it is much faster. So I think, yeah, something about cutting the fabric, just sitting in front of the sewing machine. I notice if I haven't done it for a while, when I sit down, like,

okay. Things are okay. It's all gonna be all right. So I think, I don't know if I could choose my favorite, but yeah, cause I just like them for such different reasons, but I just love them both so much. I like embroidery as well. really like patchwork and you know, and probably similar reasons, embroidery is much more portable, whereas patchwork, you know, you need a lot of stuff and takes, you you know, can't just take it on a holiday with you, but yeah, it's

I like all of the crafts.

Speaker 2 (05:40.28)

Do you have a favourite place that you like to go on holiday?

Somewhere warm would be good. our last holiday was Iceland, so hope that doesn't get us in it, but that was amazing for different reasons. Just somewhere interesting where there's something new that I could see or experience or do, I think is a good thing. Just to kind of learn a bit, see something different, I suppose. Yeah, I think so. Yeah. That's cool.

So you like to explore.

think I know the answer to this one, but your favourite animal?

Speaker 1 (06:15.39)

I like all animals. really do. think animals are amazing. But of course it would have to be my little dog. Yeah, yeah, she's pretty cool.

That's lovely. And I think one of my favourite things that you've ever made was that waist, was it a waistcoat with her on the back and like paper piecing? It's absolutely beautiful.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That was my first time doing foundation paper piecing. And I just thought, you know, if you're going to do it, do it. And I really wanted to make it. And I just went for it. And I don't know how, but it turned out really nicely. And I do love that. And we had our dog walker did like an event.

time and it looks amazing.

Speaker 1 (07:03.146)

maybe last spring, I can't remember exactly when, but she did a little event where she invited all of the dogs that she looks after and their owners. And of course I wore it. But I think because it was on the back, people didn't notice it. Like it wasn't that obvious. But then when they did that, they'd like, my goodness, I really like your. So yeah, it was nice.

That is so cute. Okay, last one of these, what's your favourite then? And it's what's your favourite fabric shop? And that can obviously either be online or in person. Do you have one that you prefer?

I kind of shop around. So I think what I do is I figure out what I wanted to buy and then I, you know, or what I needed for a particular project. And then I would just look until I found it basically. Yeah. So I'm really bad answering questions, aren't I? So I don't really have a favorite, but I think, yeah, just I'm kind of more driven by what I want rather than always going to the same shop over and over.

Fair enough. And do you think that you buy more online than in person? Because I know in person shops are quite hard to come by, really.

I definitely buy more online, I'm trying to, that was one of my new year's things is not to buy so much online and to try to go to little events or even fabric swaps because they do have some quite regularly in London. Yeah. So to kind of do that, or there's some really good kind of vintage shops around like where I live. maybe, they, they sell amazing fabrics from house clearances and stuff like that. You know, the old Liberty Kirk fabrics. So kind of to tap more into that.

Speaker 2 (08:36.965)

my goodness.

rather than buy online, but I have bought, you I'm sure I will still buy things online because sometimes you just see it and you're like, well, that would make an amazing this or I can imagine that or that really look nice.

So sort of on that theme then, where do you think you get your inspiration from?

I think I mostly get my inspiration from, I suppose, what people wear, know, not even necessarily people I know, but if I see someone even on a train or, you know, walking down the street or something and they're wearing something that I like, I think, and I kind of just tuck it away somewhere, you know, the back of my head and then think about, you know, what pattern that might be or, you know, how I could make something similar. And then also I think,

obviously Instagram as well. It's more of like a digital, it's the same thing, but it's like seeing it online rather than seeing it in real life. Also, if I see a fabric that I really like, then I will kind of look at that and think, that's amazing. I could make this with that and I would really love to wear that every day. So I think kind of like fabric designs and then also like pattern designers as well. They release a pattern that I see and I really want to make it. I'll be like, wow, that is, yeah. So I suppose that all different kind of.

Speaker 1 (09:55.448)

places.

I know you've done a lot of upcycling, like you mentioned briefly earlier. Is there a specific place that you think you see that sort of inspiration and think, I'll upcycle that? Or is it just the same sort of thing, the fabric leads it or the pattern leads it?

Yeah, I think it's definitely probably led by the patterns and fabrics and just if I see someone wearing something, you know, that I really like. One time I, because I teach people how to sew and I was teaching this little girl and she had these awesome trousers, like kind of wide-lead trousers with ruffles at the bottom. And I just remember thinking that they were amazing. And then I probably forgot about it.

I was busy. then I remembered the Matchy Matchy Sine company released their ruffle brunch set with the ruffle trousers. So I was straight in there because I just remembered, I kind of went back to seeing these ones that this little girl was wearing.

That's so cool. Yeah, I find that kids clothes are so much cooler than adult clothes. It's not fair.

Speaker 1 (11:01.966)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, because I don't really shop for myself at all, but occasionally I might buy, you know, for like a niece or something. I'll go and have a look at the shops in the kids section. I just, I suppose that's a really inspiring place to look at. Yeah. I just look at a dress and I was like, oh my

Yeah.

I know, I do the same thing because it's so colourful in the kids section, especially girls, because I've got a little boy and it's not quite so much. yeah, you've got to look at that and see how that can then relate into your adult wardrobe. And why not? Because why not have a fun wardrobe? I want to just touch on something you just said there, because I know that you don't really buy anything

Of course, yeah.

Speaker 2 (11:49.518)

in the shops do you to wear? How did that all come about? What made you want to do that?

I just didn't, I don't know. It's mostly because I didn't like trying the clothes on in the changing room. And I suppose, I don't know how to say it. So I think I just would feel like not very nice in the changing room because you try something on and you kind of think, you know, you see it on a mannequin and it looks really nice. And then you put it on yourself and it just looks awful and it didn't fit properly.

Say it.

Speaker 1 (12:24.886)

or the lighting in there is really weird, it highlights things. So I just decided that I went shopping, looking for things, couldn't find anything, tried it on, it just made me feel really like kind of ugh about myself. And I just thought, I don't wanna do that anymore. And I'm really lucky in the fact that I can buy my clothes and I don't have to do that anymore. So now, you make something, you make it to a certain point.

You try it on, you're at home, it's nice, it's warm, it's comfortable. And then if it doesn't quite fit right, then you just make a little like seam adjustment or kind of make it look a bit better or yeah. So I think that that is the main reason. And I don't, I feel kind of bad saying that, but that's basically why it's just really horrible shopping experiences and just not finding things that really fitted me nicely.

Yeah, I don't think it's horrible to say. I think it's probably an experience that a lot of, particularly women have, because we're all so conscious of our body shape and the way that the media and everything portrays what we should all look like. But I totally agree about bad lighting. Why on earth do they do that? It doesn't make you want to buy stuff.

I know, I know.

But I think that is quite a common experience and I've certainly experienced that so I do get it. Do you think that also part of your decision, and I don't want to put words in your mouth if this is not the case, but obviously you can choose what your garments are made of as well. Do you think that also leads you in your choices, like picking fabrics and stuff, like what they're made of?

Speaker 1 (14:14.382)

Yeah, I do think so. you know, also, yeah, 100 % because so, and so often you pay however much in, you know, it might fall apart even after, you know, how, you know, a couple of weeks or whatever, or buttons might fall off or the scene might rip. So there's that as well. Also what it's made from and then also who's made it. And then, you know, if you're shopping, you know, and everyone of course can shop wherever they want to shop, you know, that's great. I'm happy for everyone.

to make their own choices with that. But also just thinking about like the conditions that these things were made in and then people buying things and wearing them once. And yeah, so I think there's a lot of that involved in it too. But I mean, I know lots of people absolutely love shopping and they'll spend the whole day doing it and they really enjoy trying new things on and that's really great for them and really happy for them. But I just think my experience wasn't like that.

And yeah, just didn't want to do it anymore.

How did you actually start sewing? Did anybody teach you or did you teach yourself?

There was always a sewing machine at home when I was growing up. never really used it though, but then when I went to university, I did visual arts and I made it into sculptures. So I made all my stuff from a sewing machine. No one taught me what to do though. I knew that I loved it and I just wanted to do it. So I just made these really big kind of sculptural pieces with my sewing machine and fabric.

Speaker 1 (15:50.37)

which was a lot of fun and I really loved that. And then I suppose I moved to London almost 16 years ago now. And I think maybe 14 years ago, maybe 13 years ago, my partner actually bought me a sewing machine kind of almost really randomly for Christmas. I hadn't sewn for a long time because after I went to art school, I trained to be a primary school teacher. And then the next few years were just kind of like being a teacher and that's so.

consuming that you don't really have time to do a hobby or anything like that. And I just remember kind of being a bit confused as to why I had this sewing machine for Christmas and it was just so random. But then I kind of just realized how much I loved it again. And from there I kind of taught myself how to sew garments. And it was very basic. was like all like big four patterns. I think paper cut patterns was just very new at that

I think Tilly and the Buttons was just starting out at that time as well. So it was very much big for patterns and my local fabric store, there wasn't really online shopping. And I would just kind of buy a pattern that I liked, buy some fabric that I liked and go for it. And the first few things I made probably weren't even wearable. But then I just kept going and going and going and practicing and then that was that.

Do you think you'd ever go back to the sculptural stuff that you were doing at uni or has that sort of gone by the by?

I don't think so just because I'm not kind of like making art as a practice at the moment and obviously when I was at art school we had a lot of space we had like all studios and everything so I could kind of do that so I don't think I'd ever go back to that but I suppose the creative outlet for me now is just making clothes and kind of exploring that and that's kind of how I express my creative side.

Speaker 2 (17:42.638)

Yeah, do you ever make things for other people or is it mostly garments and things for yourself?

Sometimes I do, but I find that I don't enjoy it so much because I find that I put pressure on myself. If I make something for myself and the seam isn't perfect, then I know that I can live with that. So I'm like, okay, great, let's just move on to the next bit. But obviously if you're making something for someone else, then you kind of think, oh yeah, think that they, it's a gift. You want it to be the best quality that it can be. And they probably wouldn't even notice the seam. They probably would notice much less than I would.

but it's kind of like that pressure. I do mainly make things for like friends, kids, and a couple of things for my nieces and stuff like that. But generally it's for myself. Yeah.

I don't blame you. I know what you mean. did, like you say, I think we've all got a bit of like perfectionism when it comes to gifting something. It's like, yep, this has got to be spot on. Otherwise it's not worth it. Have you got any interesting sewing stories or like anything that's happened in your sort of sewing experience, anything that went majorly wrong?

Do you know what? I was thinking about this. I don't actually think that I do. I was really trying hard to think, I think because I also teach sewing, so I teach sewing as well. I think my most interesting stories would come from that. it's just, I think the sewing community is just, it's not a story. It's just like a thing. It's just so amazing. I think.

Speaker 1 (19:20.424)

I grew up in the 90s and the 90s was a very different time. It was very much kind of people, well, I don't know, my experiences of growing up, people weren't that supportive of each other. I don't know. Did you ever experience that? Well, I just... It's been long ago. Well, it's not, people weren't horrible or anything like that, but it was just kind of like a different time. But I just love teaching sewing and the fact that...

You know, I can't remember. Like a girl.

Speaker 1 (19:47.788)

the way that people kind of build each other up and support each other. And they might've only just met like an hour before. And then, you know, they're sitting there and someone will make something and they'll, you know, people really genuinely be impressed and, really kind and really supportive and just kind of complimentary of this thing that this person has just done. I just really love being part of that because, know, that's what it should be about is just kind of celebrating each other and.

kind of making each other feel like comfortable and happy and it's just really lovely.

So nice. I think it is quite a positive place to be. I think, you know, we see so much negativity in the world just in general, and it's lovely to just be part of this, like you say, positive place. Even if it is just on Instagram or whatever, even if it just feels really small, but I think that does mean something to people. So yeah, it's nice that others feel that way as well.

through different.

Speaker 1 (20:48.974)

Yeah, yeah, definitely. And it's nice just to kind of, I suppose, see people make their first thing and just be kind of have that experience of, my goodness, I just did this. And it's, it is a really lovely thing.

I bet you get that all the time then. Do you teach beginner sowists? Yeah, so you see that all the time, which is really rewarding.

Yeah. And just seeing that look on someone's face of how, you know, that was fun, you know, and then kind of seeing them kind of like the spark kind of ignite within them of what they can do, what they can make and things like that.

That's so cool. Do you have any exciting plans or projects that you've got in the works?

We're not actually really currently making anything sewing, I got from System and Taka, I got this incredible rifle paper canvas and I really want to make a pair of dungarees from that. because of the weight of it, don't think they'll be kind of, they'll be more like spring dungarees. So I haven't decided on the pattern yet. I was going to make the Merchant and Mills Harley dungarees, but I'm kind of like, I'm exploring different dungaree patterns at the moment.

Speaker 1 (22:05.868)

I might make that pattern, but I'm not sure.

I love Rifle Paper Company. The prints are just so nice, aren't they?

Yeah. And it's kind of like a black background with like nice bright florals on it. So I'm really excited to. Yeah. Exactly me. Nice florally print. Yes. And then the Madswift Studios, they released the Ginkgo pinafore. You've seen that one. You really want to make that, but I don't even have fabric for it. And I think it's, yeah. So I would really love to make that.

That's very you actually.

but I think it takes a lot of fabric. think I had a look at the fabric requirements, it's like four meters. I have to think. Yeah. That's surprising.

Speaker 2 (22:52.27)

Because it's sleeveless, isn't it? Or has it got sleeves as well?

I think it's sleeveless from what I've seen. But I think because it's quite full, isn't it? It's kind of like a full front and a full back and it's long. So I'll have to investigate that. yeah, it seemed like it was quite a fabric, heavy one. So I'll just have to maybe wait a while. But again, that's kind of more, I suppose you could layer it up, couldn't you? could put like a long sleeve under it, but maybe more, I'll aim for spring. Even though spring will probably spring plans.

I know! We all can't wait for it now though,

I know, it's gonna be great.

So, a random one, but who do you think I should interview next? Who would you like to listen to on this podcast?

Speaker 1 (23:38.19)

Oh my goodness, there's so many people. I mean, I think everyone's really interesting and really amazing and really inspiring in their own way. Oh my goodness, that's really put me on the spot. mean, I like Amelia. So Amelia, I she'd be really interesting. think Sandeep would be really interesting. yeah, mean, there's Tamlyn, there's so many people who I think would be amazing to hear their kind of story.

got like all these people around here. That's okay. That's good. That's really good. I think there's so many people out here that you could totally...

I think so too, which is why it's quite exciting because I think there's a lot of knowledge to tap into and a lot of people to get to know. think... So where can people find you? What are your social media handles?

It's quite exciting.

Speaker 1 (24:33.336)

Right, so I am AmeliaEllenSews on Instagram and AmeliaEllenSews on YouTube as well. Yeah, and that's it. But I haven't really put much YouTube out lately. I want to, but I just, it's just so time, I mean, you know, it's time consuming. It's really time consuming. by the time, and I mean, when I say time consuming, I can kind of get one out in three hours, but it's kind of like all of the, you know, like pricks.

like, what do I, you know, what am I going to show? What am I going to talk about? It's kind of also kind of like the planning and the prep of it as well, which takes up a lot of my head space. So I would really like to get another one out, but I just haven't, nothing in like the close future. I don't know. that a thing? Yeah. nothing like too soon, but no, I don't know. Maybe.

future.

Speaker 2 (25:24.128)

Yeah, but you are quite active on your Instagram, aren't you? So people can definitely see you there.

Well, that is all the questions, so thank you so much for joining me on the Sewing Social podcast.

cool, it's amazing. Thank you so much for interviewing me. I really enjoyed it and I hope it was okay. It was great.

Thanks so much. What a great interview with Amelia. I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with her and I really hope you enjoyed listening. If you want to hear more community stories or chat about sewing and craft, please join me for my next episode of Sewing Social. See you next time.